Ep 119: What It's Like To Launch A Chocolate Factory in Harlem w/Jessica Spaulding

Side Hustle Pro

Nicaila Matthews Okome | Side Hustle Pro Media

Nicailamatthewsokome, Blackwomenentrepreneurs, Sidehustle, Blackpodcast, Sidehustlepro, Marketing, Sidehustles, Business, Smallbusinesspodcast, Sidehustleshow, Blackownedbusiness, Blackwomenownedbusiness, Blackwomen, Blackentrepreneurs, Smallbusinessshow, Businesspodcast, Entrepreneurship, Smallbusinessowners

4.8 • 1.8K Ratings

🗓️ 21 November 2018

⏱️ 80 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Today in the guest chair, we have Jessica Spaulding, Founder of Harlem Chocolate Factory.

Jessica grew up in a home where sugar was not on the menu in no shape or form. But putting her entrepreneurial skills to the test early on, she struck a deal with her mother: if she could make her own candy, then she would also be allowed to eat it. As a Food Network enthusiast she learned to make all types of chocolate at just 10 years old, a passion that would inspire her to eventually launch Harlem Chocolate Factory.

At Harlem Chocolate Factory, Jessica produces bars and brownies inspired by the rich ethnic heritage of her native Harlem community. Jessica emphasizes quality, handcrafting her products and responsibly sourcing her chocolate.

Now, outsiders discouraged Jessica from starting her own business, saying that there was no money to be made. She was determined, however, and in college decided to take a shot at starting a chocolate company. While she was not successful at first, it encouraged her to take time to learn core business skills, a step that has paid off in the long run. On today’s episode, you’ll learn:

How Jessica bounced back from business failure and created success from the ashes
The resources and competitions she participated in to buy supplies and make samples
How she connected with a mentor that helped her prepare for competitions and think through elements of her business
How she found partners that gave her the financial stability to build her dream and take her business to the next level
And how she is continuing to develop her business as a young entrepreneur working through challenges and missteps

Listen on Apple Podcasts, Soundcloud, Stitcher

This episode is brought to you by:

Mented Cosmetics. Side Hustle Pro listeners get 15% off of all their Mented purchases! Head over to www.mentedcosmetics.com/sidehustle or use code SideHustle at checkout.

Skillshare is offering Side Hustle Pro listeners a limited time offer of 2 months of Skillshare for just 99 cents. To sign up, go to Skillshare.com/hustlepro

Links mentioned on this episode

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Social Media Info

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Harlem Chocolate Factory - @harlemchocolatefactory

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Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0	Everything can lead someone to believe how you speak, you know, means something less and so that means that they're going to treat you whatever.
0:12.0	Try to treat me however you want to treat one.
0:14.6	There's absolutely no control that you have over me whatsoever.
0:19.8	There's nothing that anyone can take for me
0:22.4	because there's nothing that anyone has given to me.
0:25.0	You're listening to Side Hustle Pro, the podcast that teaches you to build and grow your
0:32.3	side hustle from Passion project to profitable business and I'm your host
0:36.8	Nikala Matthew Zakome so let's get started
0:41.6	Hey, y'all welcome back to the show today and the guest share we have
0:46.0	Jessica Spalding founder of Harlem Chocolate Factory now Jessica grew up in a home where sugar was not on the menu in no shape or form but putting her
0:58.1	entrepreneurial skills to the test early on she struck a deal with her mother. If she could make her own candy, then she would
1:06.4	also be allowed to eat it. As a Food Network enthusiast, she learned to make all types of
1:11.9	chocolate at just 10 years old, a passion that would
1:15.2	inspire her to eventually launch Harlem Chocolate Factory. At Harlem Chocolate Factory,
1:20.8	Jessica produces bars and brownies inspired by the rich ethnic heritage of her native Harlem community.
1:27.0	Jessica emphasizes quality, handcrafting her products, and responsibly sourcing her chocolate.
1:33.0	Now, outsiders discouraged Jessica
1:35.0	from starting her own business
1:37.0	saying that there was no money to be made.
1:40.0	She was determined, however,
1:42.0	and in college decided to take a shot at starting her chocolate company.
1:46.7	While she was not successful at first, it encouraged her to take time to learn core business skills, a step that has paid off in the long run.
	...

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